Featured Post

Warning as cases of respiratory disease Mycoplasma pneumonia rise in NSW

Image
which is more contagious bacterial or viral :: Article Creator The Surprising "Side-Effect" Of Some Vaccinations Source: Frank Merino / Pexels Have you gotten the shingles vaccination? What about the flu vax? If so, I have good news and more good news for you...And your brain. Of the many factors that contribute to healthy aging—exercise, diet, the gratitude attitude, and social connections, to name a few— the most surprising may be this one: Getting vaccinated. According to the latest research, getting vaccinated may contribute not only to your lifespan—the number of years you will live— but also to your healthspan—the amount of time you will live without major health problems, including cognitive decline. Lifespan Taking lifespan first, it's no secret that getting vaccinated contributes to a longer life for individuals who get them. Vaccinations have boosted average life expectancy for people around the globe. With v

Virus game 'Plague' app pulled in China: Developer - Jakarta Post

Virus game 'Plague' app pulled in China: Developer - Jakarta Post


Virus game 'Plague' app pulled in China: Developer - Jakarta Post

Posted: 29 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST

A popular game that allows players to create a virus and spread it worldwide has been pulled from Apple's App Store in China, its developer said, as the country battles a real-life epidemic.

Users based in China could not download "Plague Inc" on Friday after the cyberspace watchdog ordered its removal over "illegal" content, UK-based Ndemic Creations said.

Ndemic said it was not clear if the decision was linked to the deadly new coronavirus outbreak, which began in central China in December.

The contagion has killed more than 2,700 people and infected nearly 79,000 in mainland China.

While the number of new cases in China is declining, infections in other countries are gathering pace. 

"We have a huge amount of respect for our Chinese players and are devastated that they are no longer able to access and play Plague Inc," Ndemic said. 

The company said it was trying to contact the Cyberspace Administration "to understand their concerns and work with them to find a resolution."

Read also: Visual novel game 'Memories' takes users on interactive journeys

AFP calls to the government agency went unanswered. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Plague Inc" was released in 2012 and has more than 130 million players, according to Ndemic. 

Ndemic said the simulation game had previously been recognized as an educational tool by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And it was "working with major global health organisations to determine how we can best support their efforts to contain and control COVID-19," the company said.

Players took to China's Twitter-like Weibo platform to criticize the decision to pull the game.

"I've played Plague Inc for so long, I'm so angry! It taught us to wash hands frequently and protect ourselves... Honestly, I learned a lot about infectious diseases from this game," one wrote.

Another said Apple chief executive Tim Cook's "application to join the (Communist) Party has been submitted."

Apple has previously been accused of bowing to China's censors such as when it removed HKmap.live, an app used by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong to track police.

Comments

Popular Posts

Preventing, controlling spread of animal diseases focus of forum at Penn State - Pennsylvania State University

Model Monday's: Diana Moldovan

“Live Coronavirus Map Used to Spread Malware - Krebs on Security” plus 1 more